Compare towns
Lyme vs Madbury vs Franconia vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Lyme | Madbury | Franconia | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
2,203Highest |
1,060Lowest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
0% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
| Franconia and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
44%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$92,571±$24k 7% below NH |
| Madbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
| Lyme and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH |
$1,281±$278 14% below NH |
$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
| Madbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,451 12% above NH |
$5,836Lowest 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lyme School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lafayette Regional School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.